From drab to fab!

Adding finishing touches to a home could be quite daunting. Here are some simple do-it-yourself home décor tips to transform your house into a fabulous home

      It is generally believed that designing the home interiors is a costly affair. Not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. Make your home distinct and attractive with these little accents:

 
Paintings steal the show
Art and paintings play an integral role in the décor of any home. No matter how well you deck up your room, an artistic painting on the wall often steals the show. “People today look for rare art items, curios and famous paintings. Mural paintings and contemporary art are the most sought after paintings today. Digital paintings, abstract art and framed printed paintings are also in demand now,” says Ullas Unnikrishnan, operations head, AGP Home Centre, Kochi.
 
           Paintings alone can serve up a lively décor and make a wonderful statement as well as a conversation piece. Sreekala Nair, a homemaker, who bought a digital painting recently to deck up her new flat, opines that a beautiful painting makes an excellent backdrop to a room. It captures the natural beauty and enhances the completeness of your living décor.
 
A touch of green
Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a home. Interior plants add the final touches to your style and personality. Bring in plants that are easy to manage. Shrubs, bonsai plants and medicinal plants like thulsi, pudina, coriander, etc., are useful as well as visually appealing. Even artificial plants available today look so good that it is hard to distinguish them from the real ones.
 
Keep it minimal
Minimal is the new mantra while doing the interiors. Leave the corners free. Pull your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning it at intriguing angles. Arranging the sofa diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.
 
          Add vertical space with shelves or bookcases in closets to minimise cluttering as much as possible. Keep it simple.  “Recliner sofa sets and cots with inbuilt storage are the most moving items today, as people are looking for comfort with simplicity,” says the manager of a popular furniture brand in the city.
 
Pillows and rugs
Decorative and brightly coloured pillows add textures and patterns to an otherwise gloomy room. Bringing in cushions and pillows in different shapes like oval, round, even triangular, make a great addition to your interior decor. 

Similarly, throws and Afghans add texture to your furniture. An area rug is a wonderful way of defining a conversation area. Try one that complements the room. Lay it at an angle beneath your coffee table or dining table.
 
Toss in colour
Add a dash of colour to your home and your life. Lively colours in the form of curtains, bright coloured cushions and a new coat of paint could produce an instant cheerfulness to your home. Simply paint one wall with your favourite colour and make it the focal point. Hang an attractive art piece on that wall or move a nice piece of furniture there. Bright shades and great colour combinations, add warmth to your home.
 
        No home décor is complete without curtains or blinds. It can do wonders to enliven any dull room. “Dark bright colours in islet models are most moving item in curtains. When it comes to blinds, German made sonatine blinds are in demand now. These are transparent in nature and looks like zebra lines in black and white colour. So are wooden blinds and roman blinds. The idea is to keep it simple and easy to use,” shares Benny Thomas, managing partner, Cherkottu Furnishings.
 
            If your room is decoratively challenged, make use of these simple useful tips and add life to your interiors. It will definitely change the drab look and brighten your home as well as your moods.

- sherene joseph